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How do I set up my practice details for ATO lodgement?

Before you can lodge anything with the ATO on a client's behalf, your practice needs three details on record: your ABN, your Tax Agent Number and your Agent Type. Until they're all saved, lodgement is blocked — the Validate and Submit buttons on a client update stay greyed out, and you'll see this message:

Set the practice ABN and Tax Agent Number in business settings before lodging client updates.

You set your Agent Type when you first create your practice. The ABN and Tax Agent Number are added here.

Adding your details

Step 1. Open Settings → Business.

Step 2. Find the Business Registration card and click Edit. The card is marked * required for STP lodgement.

Step 3. Enter your ABN (Australian Business Number) in the format XX XXX XXX XXX. You can click Verify to check it against the ABR. The ABN must be 11 digits and pass the ATO checksum — if it doesn't, you'll see "ABN is invalid — it must be 11 digits and pass the ATO checksum."

Step 4. Enter your Tax Agent Number — 8 digits. This also has an ATO checksum, so a made-up number is rejected with "Tax Agent Number is invalid — 8 digits, ATO checksum."

Step 5. Check your Agent Type is right. There are three options, and each one determines what you're able to do for a client:

  • Tax Agent — manages all account types and Income Tax client-level relationships.
  • BAS Agent — manages Integrated Client Account and GST Joint Venture only.
  • Payroll Service Provider — acts solely as payroll provider, limited to the PAYGW role on ICA / GST JV.

Step 6. Click Save. The card now shows your ABN, Practice Name, Tax Agent Number and Agent Type.

Your practice's own name appears as Practice Name on this card (not "Business Name"), and Entity Name and GST Status are optional.

Checking it worked

Open Tax in the practice sidebar and choose Add New → Client Update. If your details are saved, the warning at the top of the form is gone and Validate and Submit are both clickable.

ATO Configuration

Below Business Registration is an ATO Configuration card holding your BMS ID, Branch Code and Software ID. These are generated for you and used across Activity Statements, Payroll STP and all ATO lodgement services — you don't normally need to change them.

When you lodge for a client, myaccountant identifies your practice to the ATO using these details. If your ABN or Tax Agent Number is missing, lodgement stops with an error rather than sending an unidentified submission.

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